"But his comments have done absolutely nothing to strengthen his claim that the superior level of debate in the Seanad means the Upper House is worth saving," she added.

The astonishingly bad-tempered language about the Fine Gael deputy director of elections for the Seanad referendum was roundly condemned by fellow politicians.

The senator said he was objecting to the fact that people who were over 20 years in the Seanad "should have to listen to The Regina Monologues from somebody who is not a wet weekend in this house talking through her fanny. I object in the strongest possible way."

The angry scenes came just days after a public furore over a TD pulling a female colleague on to his lap during a late-night Dail session on the abortion bill.

The angry scenes in the Seanad – which will tomorrow night vote on the bill to allow a referendum on its own abolition – saw Jobs Minister Richard Bruton, who is Fine Gael's director of elections for the referendum, compared to Hitler.

Ms White's remark that claims Mr Bruton made on the cost of the Seanad were "like propaganda from Hitler" was described as "outrageous"; while Fianna Fail senator Terry Leyden compared it to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels.

Ms White last night said the comment should be regarded as "a metaphor" for Nazi manipulation, adding that it "just sprang to my mind".

In between Seanad votes, Mr Norris could be heard saying their claims were "just appalling, Goebbels-like propaganda".

He also gloated about his comments on Ms Doherty, joking with colleagues: "The Regina Monologues – tweet that."

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar last night led calls for Mr Norris to withdraw the remarks, but the Trinity senator dismissed the Irish Independent when approached.

Mr Norris could be asked by the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Paddy Burke, to withdraw his remarks if a complaint is made to the Oireachtas. The issue could also be referred to the Seanad Committee on Procedures and Privileges, the ruling body for the Upper House.

Mr Burke was in the chair at the time, but said he couldn't hear what Mr Norris said because of "all the commotion".

"I would have dealt with it there and then if I had heard it but it could be hard to do so retrospectively," he said.

A spokesman for Mr Bruton declined to comment, but Fine Gael sources claimed the farcical scenes strengthened the case for abolishing the Seanad entirely.

Mr Varadkar said: "A number of senators made some outrageous remarks in the Seanad, not least David Norris and Mary White, who should withdraw their claims.

"These remarks are a poor reflection on the chamber itself and I do not believe they are representative of the views of most senators."

"He (Norris) launched a personal, misogynist attack on one of my female colleagues that was completely out of order. He should apologise and withdraw his comments immediately. We have reached a new low," she said.

"Some of the behaviour in Leinster House over the last week has quite rightly been called into question. We haven't covered ourselves in glory."